How to Find Mindfulness Retreats While Travelling the World

Travelling is an interest, a hobby, and just a thing you do to get off your mind of things, unwind, and relax. Sure. However, you can use travelling as a retreat. A journey into the realm of mindfulness. So, what is mindfulness?

How to Find Mindfulness Retreats While Travelling the World

Mindfulness is a practice wherein you connect with your present. Sounds too simplistic? But think a bit about it. Every day, you are surrounded by plenty of things that allow negativity to seep into your mind and build a house there. It can be the strain of your family responsibilities or your job. Mindfulness takes your focus away from all of these things and allows you to engage with the world around you. In doing so, it benefits your mind and body. While there are many ways to practice mindfulness, travel can be useful, too. Travelling to far-off, peaceful destinations allows you a mindful trip.

The Benefits of Mindfulness Retreats

The world is fast-paced. You blink, and you miss. Here, there, and all those moments are gone. You try to keep up with the world, but somewhere, sometimes, it can get overwhelming. Travelling away on a mindfulness retreat will let you get away from this hustle and bustle. Mindfulness allows you to be present and be aware and experience those in-between moments that let you connect with yourself and your world.

In fact, if you want to go a step further, you can also avail yourself of the benefits of mindfulness therapy. Mindfulness therapy helps you overcome several mental barriers and live life with meaning and purpose. The mindfulness therapy techniques you learn can also be used while you are on a mindfulness retreat.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Retreat

If you are considering a mindfulness retreat, there are some factors you will have to keep in mind:

• Begin with choosing a location: Location is a central aspect of a mindfulness retreat. There are several exotic and pristine locations you can choose for a mindfulness retreat. Some countries with well-known mindfulness retreats are Nepal (against the backdrop of the majestic Himalayan mountains), Thailand, Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, and Hawaii, among others.
• Once you choose the mindfulness retreat, make sure to look into it: You can look at their website, read testimonials, and so on. You need to ensure that their philosophy and principles align with yours regarding mindfulness.
• Choose the best time: This requires researching the location you choose. Perhaps it is best not to go for a mindfulness treat during scorching summers or biting winters, rather, at a pleasant time like the spring.
• Do you want to travel alone or with someone? This is a crucial factor to decide. Travelling alone will be a profound experience. Meanwhile, travelling with a partner will be conducive to engaging in mindfulness-related activities.
• Consider the diet: Mindfulness goes well with a nutritious diet. Therefore, when you are seeking out a mindfulness retreat, consider the food. Typically, there will be vegan, vegetarian and other options, too, in the case of food allergies.

How to Find Mindfulness Retreats

Travelling for mindfulness combines the benefits of self-care and caters to your sense of adventure. Therefore, picking the best mindfulness retreat centre for you is important. There are many different kinds of mindfulness retreats, so you need to soul-search a bit.

• First, location: Location is everything. Once you zero in on the location, use online resources to look up mindfulness retreats in that area. If you find something that catches your eye, visit their website. Read their mission statement, the practices they engage in, what they have to offer, images, and testimonials.
• If you do not know what a mindfulness retreat will be like, you can look up the mindfulness retreat centers in your area: When you get the time, pay a visit. This way, you are better prepared for what you might experience once you are at the location of your choice.
• Look up the schedules and activities the retreat centers have to offer: If this aligns with what you are looking for or not. This also means whether you want a silent retreat or a non-silent one. Silent retreats have minimal communication, while non-silent retreats emphasize communication as well.
• Then, consider how long you will be away: Retreats typically range from a weekend to several weeks. So, decide the amount of time you want to spend at the retreat. This depends on your interest, budget, the time you can dedicate, and other personal factors.
• Do not forget to look into the instructor's credentials and experience: This is crucial for a profound experience.
• Last but not least, cost and accommodations are also crucial to consider: You will have to consider your budget and the comfort of living. Some retreats are more on the luxurious side, while others are budget-friendly and provide dormitory-style accommodations.

5 Popular Destinations for Mindfulness Retreats

• Maldives: Maldives is a top destination for a mindfulness retreat. It is typically described as heaven on earth, and for a good reason. With the relaxing beaches and untouched lagoons, this is the best location to escape to for a mindfulness retreat.
• Bali: Bali is another sought-after destination for a mindfulness retreat. Surrounded by beautiful sceneries, this puts you in the right frame of mind for a mindfulness retreat.
• Switzerland: When it comes to beautiful, relaxing locations, we just cannot keep Switzerland off the list. Switzerland is a good location for a mindfulness retreat, especially if you want it to be packed with more adventurous activities. Zermatt in Switzerland is specifically known for mindfulness retreats.
• Spain: The sunny Spain is an ideal place for a mindfulness retreat, as it has some of the biggest mindfulness centers in Europe. Ibiza, known for parties, can actually offer a good getaway for mindfulness as well.
• India: The land that is steeped in tradition and history is a more conventional location for a mindfulness retreat. Rishikesh in India is an ideal place for this. Even The Beatles will agree!

Final Reflections

Mindfulness is a healthy practice that keeps you in contact with your present and allows you to engage in the world around you. It enables you to disengage from negative thinking and emotional patterns and allows you to relax and find meaning/purpose in your life. The grind of daily life can become overwhelming. Adding social media to the mix (of which there are 5 billion users worldwide), can lead to anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Mindfulness retreats are a refreshing change from the busyness of daily life.

Choosing the right mindfulness retreat location and centre can be useful in following the right practices to attain the maximum benefits of mindfulness as well. Mindfulness retreat provides a way to connect with yourself, others, and the wider world. (Top photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash)

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ABOUTME

We overland. We eat plants and fungi. We live outside as much as possible. We are all connected. A female travel blogger overlanding and writing about ecotourism, ethical and sustainable travel, socially conscious travel and housesitting. An online travel magazine since 2015.